Radio Times: Review by:; Jane Anderson

About a third of the way through this play I had decided that it was a modern Romeo and Juliet story — doomed lovers, tragedy looming etc. I am glad that I stayed until the end, for there are more subtle intricacies that start to appear in the narrative.

The story takes place in a racist world where the Crosses (people with black skin) reign supreme over the Noughts (people with white skin) and never the twain shall meet. But, just as there are so many shades of grey between the polar opposites of black and white, so there are countless areas where the lives of Noughts and Crosses overlap: school, the workplace, politics and, in the case of our central characters, Callum and Sephy,
a friendship that turns to love.

About this programme

Malorie Blackman's drama set in a dystopian world, centred on two teenagers who have been friends since infancy but belong to different sectors of a socially segregated society. Callum is one of the Noughts - second-class citizens - who longs to be with wealthy politician's daughter Sephy, but she belongs to the elite rank of the Crosses, meaning the youngsters may never be able to start a life together. Dramatised by Janice Okoh. Starring Zawe Ashton and Rikki Lawton.